Mute swan grazing on winter crops: estimation of yield loss in oilseed rape and wheat |
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| Authors: | Dave Parrott Helen V McKay |
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| Institution: | Central Science Laboratory, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Sand Hutton, York YO41 1LZ, UK |
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| Abstract: | Yield loss due to grazing by mute swans was measured on two fields each of autumn-sown oilseed rape and winter wheat, located in three regions of the UK. Using a paired plot design, a 33.7% reduction in yield (total dry weight of seed) and a 12.1% reduction in the thousand-seed weight was measured in the rape field subjected to the highest grazing intensity. No significant yield loss was measured in the other three fields. Yield loss was related to: (i) the timing of the onset of grazing, and (ii) the duration of grazing (both estimated from counts of mute swan droppings). Management measures which delay the onset of grazing and/or reduce the duration of grazing are therefore likely to reduce yield loss. |
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| Keywords: | Mute swan Winter crops Yield loss |
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